Rams host Packers Sunday

ST. LOUIS, Jan. 19 (UPI) -- Kurt Warner is a former training camp quarterback cut by the Green Bay Packers, but Sunday, the two-time NFL Most Valuable Player duels three-time MVP Brett Favre for the first time.

The St. Louis Rams (14-2) host the Packers (13-4) Sunday in an NFC divisional playoff featuring the NFL's top quarterbacks. The winner will meet either the Chicago Bears or Philadelphia Eagles in the conference championship game next weekend.

Warner and the Rams won the Super Bowl two years ago under former coach Dick Vermeil with Mike Martz as offensive coordinator. After getting knocked out of the playoffs in the wild card round last season, the Rams finished with a franchise-best record this season and have homefield advantage throughout the playoffs.

Favre and the Packers are back in the playoffs for the first time since 1998 and posted a 25-15 victory over the San Francisco 49ers in the wild card round last week.

The 32-year-old Favre was the NFL's dominant player in the mid 1990s, restoring the Packers back to glory with a Super Bowl title in 1996 and a trip to the Super Bowl the following year.

Bothered by a sore shoulder and elbow, Favre struggled the previous two seasons, but returned to form with 3,921 yards and 32 touchdowns in 2001. He excelled in the playoff win over the Niners, completing 22-of-29 for 269 yards and two touchdowns.

Since becoming the Rams' starter in 1999, Warner has been the NFL's best quarterback, winning MVP honors that year and this season. In 2000, Rams running back Marshall Faulk took MVP honors.

The 30-year-old Warner threw for 4,830 yards, the second-highest total in NFL history, and 36 touchdowns this season. Dan Marino holds the league record with 5,084 passing yards for the Miami Dolphins in 1984.

Warner was an extra "training camp arm" for the Packers in 1994 when Favre, Mark Brunell and Ty Detmer were the team's top quarterbacks. After being waived by former Packers coach Mike Holmgren, Warner starred in the Arena League from 1995-97 and played in NFL Europe before joining the Rams in 1998.

The following year, Warner threw for 4,353 yards and 41 touchdowns and led the Rams to their first Super Bowl title.

Guard Adam Timmerman was a starter on the Packers' back-to-back Super Bowl teams in the '90s before signing with the Rams in 1999 and compared Favre, a demonstrative team leader, with the calm Warner.

"Brett has more of a take charge attitute in the huddle, encouraging the players," Timmerman said. "Kurt just walks in, calls the play and expects the players to do their jobs."

Whereas Favre often improvises and uses rollouts, Warner is the classic drop-back pocket passer with the quick release.

Timmerman best summarizes the arm strength of both. "Brett could throw it right through the wall and Kurt could throw it over the wall," he said.

Warner throws it over the wall often to his stable of receivers headed by Torry Holt and Isaac Bruce. Holt is the team's top deep threat with 81 receptions for 1,363 yards and seven touchdowns and Bruce caught 64 passes for 1,106 yards and six scores.

Warner also has Faulk, the first player in NFL history to surpass 2,000 total yards in four straight seasons.

It will be up to Packers coach Mike Sherman and defensive coordinator Ed Donatell to figure out a way to stop the league's most prolific offense (503 points).

The Packers ranked second in the NFC in sacks with 52 and will need to put some heat on Warner Sunday with a variety of blitzes. Defensive end Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila led the team with 13 sacks.

"As long as you keep pressure on the quarterback, that's what it takes to beat these guys," said Packers safety Billy Jenkins, who played on the Rams' Super Bowl-winning team. "You want to try to get him (Warner) to do what he's not used to doing.

"This is a game we have to go in and give them everything we have. There can't be any tentativeness at all."

Favre does not the same arsenal of weapons as Warner. Receiver Antonio Freeman is still a threat on crossing patterns, but no longer possesses the speed to go deep. Corey Bradford is now the primary deep threat and caught a 51-yard bomb in last week's playoff win.

The Packers have a strong running game with Ahman Green, who is a double threat with 1,385 rushing yards and nine touchdowns and 63 receptions for 596 yards.

Faulk had 1,382 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns and caught 83 passes for 765 yards and nine scores.

Favre must contend with a Rams defense which ranked first in the NFC and third in the league overall. Ends Leonard Little and Grant Wistrom combined for 24 sacks.

Warner suffered a throat contusion in St. Louis' regular season finale on January 6 and the Rams want him to avoid talking until Sunday as a precaution. Backup quarterback Jamie Martin barked out the calls in the huddle during practice.